Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) was stumped. After working for 7 years and spending $13 million attempting to bring a badly needed transmission line to the northern New Mexico communities of Santa Fe and Las Vegas, public resistance had killed the proposed line. Nevertheless, these communities needed a new source of reliable electricity to serve the area’s growing demand.

PNM turned to STAR Group for a new approach to public involvement. Utilizing the Utility Search Conference™ process, STAR Group was able to bring all affected stakeholders together to agree on several recommendations for PNM’s consideration. Among these recommendations included a new 230kV transmission line.

Because the Utility Search Conference process was so effective, each of the seven regulatory bodies with jurisdiction over the project gave it unanimous approval – something unheard of in PNM’s experience. The new line was constructed on time and was energized in May 2006.